Liverpool FC Forum

[stmichael]

Ideally Masha would be the sitter and destroyer with Gerrard paired up with him. If those two clicked in the engine room, that would be poetry in motion.

Ideally yes but 95% of the time those two have played together in a two it hasn't worked. It's neither player's natural instinct to be positionally disciplined. They both do everything at a hundred miles an hour. I'm not saying Gerrard can't adapt. I've seen him be extremely disciplined and run the show from a deeper game recently in a couple of Derby games against the bitters. It's not where we'll get the best out of him at this moment in time though. As it stands I'd like to see something like this.

                                      Reina
                       Johnson Carra Agger left back
                                      Lucas
                           Gerrard       Aquilani
                   Maxi/Kuyt                 Cole/Jovanovic
                                      Torres

Although I have to admit, after signing Cole I'm finding it more and more difficult to see where Aquilani fits into this side.

[JC_81]

STEVEN Gerrard today committed his future to Liverpool FC.

The Reds skipper ended months of speculation as he welcomed the signing of Joe Cole from Chelsea and admitted he cannot wait to play alongside him.

The news will come as a massive boost to Liverpool supporters - the second in 24 hours.

Gerrard said of Cole: "It is a great signing for us. I know Joe well through the England set-up and have seen first hand just how good a player he is.

"He has proved his ability over many years in the Premier League - sometimes against us - so it will be fantastic to play alongside him in a red shirt for Liverpool."

Gerrard, who has been at Anfield since he was eight years old and has never in recent seasons expressed any desire to leave despite the speculation this summer, added: "I've told him what a great club this is and I'm sure Joe's the sort of exciting talent our fans will love to see. I made it clear that I simply needed to concentrate on the World Cup and then have a decent holidaty with my family.

"I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and having done so, I'm very impressed with his plans for the future."

Great news this.

That seems to be Stevie properly commiting himself now.

I expect Torres will stay now too.  Mascherano I'm not so confident about, but you never know.

[JC_81]

                                     Reina
                       Johnson Carra Agger left back
                                      Lucas
                           Gerrard       Aquilani
                   Maxi/Kuyt                 Cole/Jovanovic
                                      Torres

Although I have to admit, after signing Cole I'm finding it more and more difficult to see where Aquilani fits into this side.

I'd like to see us line up with a proper 4-3-3 this season

                                 Reina

Johnson          Carragher     Agger           ??

                     Gerrard      Aquilani

                               Cole
Kuyt                                                 Jovanovic
                              Torres

I think Aquilani has been written off too early as someone who cannot play in an orthodox midfield two.  I hope he gets a chance to play in there more regularly.  I think he's an intelligent player and can be good enough to play in there for us.  He's a big lad and once he gets used to the style of play over here he shouldn't really have a problem with being able to mix it.

[Redman in wales]

                                     Reina
                       Johnson Carra Agger left back
                                      Lucas
                           Gerrard       Aquilani
                   Maxi/Kuyt                 Cole/Jovanovic
                                      Torres

Although I have to admit, after signing Cole I'm finding it more and more difficult to see where Aquilani fits into this side.

I'd like to see us line up with a proper 4-3-3 this season

                                 Reina

Johnson          Carragher     Agger           ??

                     Gerrard      Aquilani

                               Cole
Kuyt                                                 Jovanovic
                              Torres

I think Aquilani has been written off too early as someone who cannot play in an orthodox midfield two.  I hope he gets a chance to play in there more regularly.  I think he's an intelligent player and can be good enough to play in there for us.  He's a big lad and once he gets used to the style of play over here he shouldn't really have a problem with being able to mix it.

i like that line up, but there isn't much cover for the back 4 there. gerrard doesn't like the DM / holding slot, he likes to bomb forward, and io think, irrespective of roys instruction, gerrard will venture forward a lot. That would leave aquilani  - the tough tackler that he his - the only protection for the back 4.

I honestly dont think you can play that front 6, and would need a mash / lucas / proper DM in there to stop us getting caught on the break.

[JC_81]

I honestly dont think you can play that front 6, and would need a mash / lucas / proper DM in there to stop us getting caught on the break.

It's certainly not a defensively minded set-up, but I honestly think Stevie's days of bursting into the box and playing off Torres are over.  He looks to have lost that bit of acceleration he had a few seasons ago.  IMO we need to start using him more of an orthodox central midfielder and he can still be a fantastic player in that position over the next few seasons.

I think we'd certainly get away with that lineup at Anfield, maybe with the exception of the top sides who'd probably pick you off on the break.  But I'd like to see us use it.  You don't need the 'insurance policy' of a defensive midfielder all the time - this is simply in fashion at the moment ever since Makelele did a brilliant job of it in the Madrid galacticos team.  Not every successful team has to be built on this model though.  There are still all round midfielders capable of winning the ball AND doing something with it, and we have one of the best in Gerrard.

[Tim LFC]

I think the problem with Aquilani and not sticking a foot out last season was the he was scared of tackling and the injuring himself, he would be instantly labelled as flop and a crock which he wouldn't want. It was probably due to a mental thing but now he's fit i think he will put in more of a tackle he's 6 foot 2 so he's tall enough, bulk up a bit and he'll be fine.

[rocky29]

people are getting carried away abit now with joe cole. Aquilani has far more skill and technique than joe cole and people on here are starting to makeout that aqua should lose his place now cole is here. Aquilani is alot better than cole. Its just that the players around him aernt as good as he is not the other way round.

[maguskwt]

people are getting carried away abit now with joe cole. Aquilani has far more skill and technique than joe cole and people on here are starting to makeout that aqua should lose his place now cole is here. Aquilani is alot better than cole. Its just that the players around him aernt as good as he is not the other way round.

I kinda agree that when fit Aquilani can be more affective in unlocking defenses than Cole... I'm hoping we can find a way to play both of them...

if that's the case though, the Germans' formation of 4-2-3-1 might suit us... the 3 being no out and out wingers and rather attacking midfielders...

                  Gerrard   Masch
     Kuyt               Cole           Aquilani
                         Torres

I'm starting to have different opinions about what formation and line-up is the best... I hope Roy knows what he's doing...

There seem to be too many options and possibilties right now... 

[Fauxy]

Reina

             Johnson       Carra       Agger      Figueroa

                                      Lucas

                             Gerrard       Aquilani

              Maxi                                           Cole

                                       Torres


Would like this formation but Lucas wouldnt be very reliable sitting in front of the back four so get a defensive mid and we are sorted!

[Scottbot]

Well, maybe I´m less sentimental than you but Gerrard is a weak captain, he has no idea about leadership.

SG needs to reinvent himself this season, last year his contribution was weak (not considering the injury etc..) as was his England performance (captain, what captain?) so for me it wouldnt be a massive blow if he bowed out. Put it this way, if he moved, I imagine he'd put more effort into a new club than he will next season for LFC.

Rich, what have you actually based that on? We can only really speculate on Gerrard's ability as a captain/leader. You (and me) simply don't know how he carries himself off the field, on the practice pitch and in the dressing room. It also depends on what you class, want and expect from a Captain. Stevie has never been a tub-thumping, screamit from the roof tops kind of Captain however, I think he has become more of a talker on the pitch as the years have gone by. Stevie is a 'lead by example' kind of Captain and unfortunately when he fails to do that (ie. his form lets him down as it did last year) his captaincy doesn't seem to be so good. Also, i think football fans secretly fancy themselves to be 'big brother' style experts in body language when they're watching certain players and i'm sure a lot of speculative BS has been spouted about Gerrard's demeanor over the years. Whe you say Gerrard needs to 're-invent himself' it sounds more like you are talking about his form than his captaincy? What else do you want him to change? Does he need to improve his pre-match and half-time rallying talks? We don't know anything about them, does he need to do a better job making the younger players feel at home? Again, we don't know anything about this side of the captaincy role. And as for the 'more effort at another club' bit, I completely disagree. I think you have mistaken dissilusionment (of last year) for a lack of effort during the last campaign. I didn't see a lack of effort, I saw a player who struggled for form, who never looked like he was fully fit, who was devastated by how poorly the team played.

I've never felt a bigger feeling of 'come on you Fuuuuuu...ccccc.....kkkkk.....ers Let's Have It!!!!!!!' as when our Captain ran screaming towards the Liverpool fans after that first goal in Istanbul. Now that is what I call leadership.

[Roger Red Hat]

cant believe they got new bikes and some fekkers nicked the wheels off 'em!   

[Bad Bob]

STEVEN Gerrard today committed his future to Liverpool FC.

The Reds skipper ended months of speculation as he welcomed the signing of Joe Cole from Chelsea and admitted he cannot wait to play alongside him.

The news will come as a massive boost to Liverpool supporters - the second in 24 hours.

Gerrard said of Cole: "It is a great signing for us. I know Joe well through the England set-up and have seen first hand just how good a player he is.

"He has proved his ability over many years in the Premier League - sometimes against us - so it will be fantastic to play alongside him in a red shirt for Liverpool."

Gerrard, who has been at Anfield since he was eight years old and has never in recent seasons expressed any desire to leave despite the speculation this summer, added: "I've told him what a great club this is and I'm sure Joe's the sort of exciting talent our fans will love to see. I made it clear that I simply needed to concentrate on the World Cup and then have a decent holidaty with my family.

"I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and having done so, I'm very impressed with his plans for the future."

[bigmick]

"I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and having done so, I'm very impressed with his plans for the future."

Well in Stevie lad, that's the way 

[devaney]

"I wanted the chance to meet Roy Hodgson privately and having done so, I'm very impressed with his plans for the future."

Well in Stevie lad, that's the way 

Fantastic news! Ace I understand that Purslow was responsible for the negotiations and that Roy sat in the corner nodding his head! Hodgson deserves a lot of credit for the work he has done recently. I just wonder if either of those players would be at Anfield if Benitez had stayed. Torres next and probably before the end of the week?

Haven't read the entire thread - BENNY are you any fkg happier?

[devaney]

Well, maybe I´m less sentimental than you but Gerrard is a weak captain, he has no idea about leadership.

SG needs to reinvent himself this season, last year his contribution was weak (not considering the injury etc..) as was his England performance (captain, what captain?) so for me it wouldnt be a massive blow if he bowed out. Put it this way, if he moved, I imagine he'd put more effort into a new club than he will next season for LFC.

Rich, what have you actually based that on? We can only really speculate on Gerrard's ability as a captain/leader. You (and me) simply don't know how he carries himself off the field, on the practice pitch and in the dressing room. It also depends on what you class, want and expect from a Captain. Stevie has never been a tub-thumping, screamit from the roof tops kind of Captain however, I think he has become more of a talker on the pitch as the years have gone by. Stevie is a 'lead by example' kind of Captain and unfortunately when he fails to do that (ie. his form lets him down as it did last year) his captaincy doesn't seem to be so good. Also, i think football fans secretly fancy themselves to be 'big brother' style experts in body language when they're watching certain players and i'm sure a lot of speculative BS has been spouted about Gerrard's demeanor over the years. Whe you say Gerrard needs to 're-invent himself' it sounds more like you are talking about his form than his captaincy? What else do you want him to change? Does he need to improve his pre-match and half-time rallying talks? We don't know anything about them, does he need to do a better job making the younger players feel at home? Again, we don't know anything about this side of the captaincy role. And as for the 'more effort at another club' bit, I completely disagree. I think you have mistaken dissilusionment (of last year) for a lack of effort during the last campaign. I didn't see a lack of effort, I saw a player who struggled for form, who never looked like he was fully fit, who was devastated by how poorly the team played.

I've never felt a bigger feeling of 'come on you Fuuuuuu...ccccc.....kkkkk.....ers Let's Have It!!!!!!!' as when our Captain ran screaming towards the Liverpool fans after that first goal in Istanbul. Now that is what I call leadership.

Reg I know what you mean buts let's put last season behind us! The entire team apart from Pepe was utter shi.te and that was down to a lack of motivation and man management and SG can only do so much when the faith of the team has been destroyed others.